(Updated 8/7) Upcoming Scottish Christmas Walk Weekend Canceled — “The coronavirus has canceled one of Alexandria’s most beloved traditions this winter.” [Alexandria Living]
Beyer Blames Trump for Coronavirus Response Failures — “The White House is simultaneously blaming state governments for Trump’s failed pandemic response and blocking federal assistance to support state and local governments.” [Twitter]
It was another busy week in Alexandria.
Our readers overwhelmingly responded to Sunday’s protest at the Alexandria home of acting Department of Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf, and the story has more than 380 comments. This week also saw its first homicide, which occurred in the West End, in addition to a number of crime events in the Braddock area.
Alexandria Police are investigating a series of smash-and-grab burglaries at seven businesses in the West End and along Eisenhower Avenue.
Assistant Police Chief Don Hayes did not say what was stolen would not comment as to whether the city is experiencing a crime spree.
Alexandria Police are investigating an attempted robbery in a residential neighborhood in the West End of the city, which occurred hours before a woman was shot to death less than a mile away early Wednesday morning (July 29).
The male victim was reportedly cut multiple times during the altercation, but the injuries were not life threatening, according to Alexandria Assistant Police Chief Don Hayes.
(Updated July 31) The Alexandria Police Department is investigating a homicide in the West End.
Police responded to a call regarding shots fired at S. Greenmount Drive around 6:20 a.m., according to a press release. At the scene, officers found the body of a woman with gunshot wounds on her upper body.
It’s been a bumpy ride for drivers on the West End traveling along King Street, but that should change after next week.
The City of Alexandria is planning to start resurfacing King Street between S. 28th Street and S. 25th Street, a portion of the street passing Array at West Alex and the busy intersection with S. Walter Reed Drive.
Alexandria Police are investigating a robbery from a person in the city’s West End early on Thursday night.
At around 6:30 p.m., a person was struck by a chair inside a business in the 200 block of S. Van Dorn Street and robbed of personal items. The victim received minor injuries.
The office building at 4850 Mark Center Drive may not be known to many Alexandrians, but on Tuesday it was approved as the eventual headquarters of the city’s Health Department and Department of Community and Human Services (DCHS) — and potentially a temporary hub of city administration once repairs to City Hall move forward.
At Tuesday’s City Council meeting, the council approved purchasing the building for $58.7 million and to relocate the Health Department andn DCHS into the 10-story building.
Rosslyn-based gym E60 Fitness announced yesterday (Sunday) that the business is planning to open a second location this summer at West Alex — a new apartment at 3445 Berkeley St.
The gym will occupy 3,200 square feet of the new building, which is scheduled to open this summer. An employee at E60 fitness said the company is tentatively eyeing a September opening.
Former ACPS Chief Executive Officer Decries School System Leadership — “Some ACPS leadership and staff recognized a downward shift in my influence about a year ago. I remained focused. Then, this past December, after a disagreement about how to de-escalate transportation employee complaints, my position of chief operating officer, among other positions, was eliminated by the school board as part of what came off as a hastily generated restructuring plan by Superintendent Dr. Gregory C. Hutchings Jr., Ed.D.” [Alex Times]
City Buys 10K Face Masks for Local Nonprofits — “This week, Griffin, Jenelle, and Caroline helped bag some of the 10,000 masks purchased by the City of Alexandria for distribution to local nonprofits!” [Facebook]
An Alexandria Police cruiser was reportedly spray-painted with Black Lives Matter messaging in the West End on the late evening of June 23 or early morning of June 24.
No suspects have been found, according to police spokesman Lt. Courtney Ballantine.
